01 / UNDERSTAND↗
Read the place.
Capture site observations, photos and context. Identify the constraints, opportunities and everyday activities that should shape the project.
Connect. Exchange. Create.
Better places
begin with a
better brief.
Understand the place. Listen to its people. Turn evidence and shared ideas into a clear direction for design.
For public places, neighbourhoods and spaces closer to home.
People + Place + Purpose
A shared vision.A clearer starting point.
Imagine the possibilities
Places worth creating.
Together.
More welcoming streets.
More connected neighbourhoods.
More life between buildings.
Space to belong.
AI-generated urban concepts · Illustrative possibilities, not completed projects.
From understanding to direction
Before the design,
get the brief right.
A useful brief connects what a site tells us with what people need. OurPlace brings those inputs together so design starts with a clear purpose.
02 / CONNECT↗
Hear the people.
Bring participants into the conversation. Gather lived experience, suggestions and visual ideas to understand what matters to the people who use the place.
03 / CREATE↗
Define the direction.
Develop ideas with text and visuals, then bring your chosen direction into a design brief that explains the intended outcome.
See the thinking in action
Every requirement
should have
a reason.
Explore how site evidence and people’s needs can lead to a specific design requirement.
Illustrative examples — each project needs its own assessment.
OurPlace / Brief thinkingIllustrative example
A safer play space
Site
evidence
evidence
Traffic, delivery vehicles and busy pedestrian routes surround the shopping centre. Structures interrupt views across the site.
People’s
needs
needs
Parents want a play area near the shops, where children can play safely and remain visible.
Brief
requirement
requirement
Locate the play area away from vehicle movements and main pedestrian routes, with clear sightlines from shops and surrounding activity to support supervision.
A place for everyone’s perspective
Different projects.
Shared understanding.
Whether you’re shaping a neighbourhood or improving your own backyard, start by bringing the right people and information together.
Local authorities
Connect site context and community priorities for streets, parks and public spaces.
Explore authorities →Communities
Make local knowledge and shared aspirations part of the conversation about your place.
Explore communities →Developers
Explore opportunities, understand stakeholder needs and clarify the project’s direction.
Explore developers →Home owners
Turn everyday needs and inspiration into a clear brief for your home or outdoor space.
Explore home owners →Bring the thinking together
One brief.
A clearer direction
for your place.
Carry your project’s context, ideas and intended outcome forward in a design brief PDF.
01 Site context and observations
02 Participant needs and ideas
03 Visual exploration and inspiration
04 A chosen idea and design brief
A few things to know
Start with understanding.
Do I need to be a designer to use OurPlace?
You can start with observations, photos and ideas. OurPlace is intended for authorities, communities, developers and home owners, as well as the specialists they work with.
How does AI fit into the process?
AI can help develop idea descriptions and explore visual possibilities. These are starting points for discussion and refinement. Your site evidence, participant input and judgment guide the final direction.
Does the design brief replace professional advice?
The brief gives design a starting point. Planning, engineering, building compliance, feasibility and detailed design still require appropriate assessment and professional advice.
Where do I access my project?
Select “Open OurPlace Studio” to go to the existing project workspace on Qbix Digital. You can also view the current plans before starting.
What could your place become?
Start with the site. Bring in the people. Create a clearer brief.
Open OurPlace Studio ↗Talk to us about your project →